By Andy Pate, Jr.
Over the years I've told so many Refugio Bobcat stories that now I'm unable to remember many of them. So, I decided to write down here the ones I can recall. I begin with one from 1948, the second year for the Bobcats to win consecutive Class B regional titles (as far as they could go).
The Cats were playing Orange Grove for Area in Robstown. As was our custom when travelling in that direction, we stopped in Sinton for the pregame meal, after which we reloaded on the bus and continued our journey. We arrived in Robstown about 7:00 pm and unloaded.
"Where's Jack? Where's Jack?" we heard Coach Germer cry out for his star running back with the last name we knew to be Sportsman.
Jack was not to be found, inside or outside the bus. Then, about 10 minutes after our arrival, a car stopped in the parking area, and Jack got out. A huge sigh of relief swept through the team and coaches.
After our meal Jack had gone to the restroom and didn't leave in time to reload on the bus. But some loyal Cat fans saw him hitch-hiking and made sure Jack got to the game on time.
That same year, Charles "Nut" Williams was the starting quarterback and a great one, one of the best all-round players ever to don the Orange and Black. Some years back "Nut" shared this account of his role with Coach Sandy Germer.
"Andy, " Charles asked me, do you remember that Coach Germer was a stutterer? I did. "Well. in a close game, when he got really excited on the sideline, he'd yell out for me, " Cha...Cha.... Cha...". unable to complete his statement.
"Well, Andy, when that would happen. I'd go to the sideline and tell coach, :I gotcha." then I'd return to game and call the play I thought would work."
Also, that same year, the Cars had an unusual kickoff return play called "The Huddle." When either Dudley Skeen or Jack would receive the kickoff, he'd run to the center of the field and turn his back, then either hand off or keep the ball when the other back ran by him. Some years later, Jack told me, "In '48, Dudley and I made 10 TDs off that one play."
Four years later, in 1952, when I was a sub guard, we played a memorable game in Edna. The field was soaked from heavy rains, although it rained only slightly during the contest. The sidelines were almost invisible. We were on defense when Edma ran a big play directly at the bench, on which sideline I was standing. Suddenly, Teddy Gray appeared and drove the Edna runner several yards beyond the sideline. For that play, Gray received a 15-yard penalty, which he protested loudly, to no avail.
No matter, we were well ahead; and even I got to play a good bit, during which I got a first-hand look at Gray's defensive prowess. As I lined up, he patted me on my butt and said, they're coming right at you, Andy, right at you. I heard, and when the ball snapped, I slipped past the guy trying to block me and tackled the fullback as he was being handled the ball. Wow! I left the game to a standing ovation, the only one I've ever received.
Unfortunately, I returned to the game as the Edna offense was running out the clock. There was a huge pile up, at the bottom of which I had my face down, deep in 3 to 4 inches of water. Honestly, I thought my life might end as a victim of drowning during a football game.
There are more tales to be told of course, especially about basketball and track and field. The stories about them will come here, later.
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